Thread: Itsy Bitsy Coffee Table

I've made a couple myself, using the old tried 'n true methods...

... but looking at how you've stacked the legs in the pic I can't help but wonder how succesfully a lathe could shape the lower third and feet.

It wouldn't save any time, but one problem *I* have is inconsistencies between the 'ankle' profiles of each leg. This would go a long way to reducing that, provided a quarter arc profile looked right there.

Not that I'm going to rush to the shed and make a set just to find out! Maybe next Honeydew.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

It wouldn't save any time, but one problem *I* have is inconsistencies between the 'ankle' profiles of each leg.

After they have been cut on the bandsaw I mark them out again with the template and sand the profile square on the wheel of the linisher to get a really good match to the template before I start rounding anything off. I find that helps to keep the proportions right.

Then they are stacked or stood together, as you see them in the first post, so they can be checked to ensure they are all alike.

Here it is in the assembly stage.

Assembly.jpg

You work fast young man!!
I should visit whilst I am still local.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Enfield Guy

You work fast young man!!
I should visit whilst I am still local.
Cheers

We semi-retired blokes have time to spend in our sheds, although I am doing real work in Sydney most of this week. First coat of sanding sealer just went on. Lacquer later today ... I hope.

Sounds like you are moving. When and where?

Three coats of lacquer on. Now we drink coffee and smoke cigarettes for a couple of hours whilst it goes hard. Then it gets a rub with 400 wet and dry followed by a final wet coat of 30% lacquer and 70% thinners. I'll post a pic of the finished item.

Finished.jpg

Finished, and in its place.

Great job?

Damienol,

The client (AKA Her Indoors) is happy, so I'm happy.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

....... but looking at how you've stacked the legs in the pic I can't help but wonder how succesfully a lathe could shape the lower third and feet......

Skew, if you go looking, you'll find lots of 'how-tos' on shaping ankles & feet for cabriole legs on the lathe. You can get them to look ok, but I prefer the hand-shaped look, I reckon you can make the curves much more organic-looking by cutting them out & hand-shaping. This is one job where my Liogier rasps really come into their own!

And I reckon you are dead right that by the time you muck about setting out, & doing the the off-centre turning & centred turning, then blending that into the parts you can't do on the lathe, it's quicker to make a single set by cutting-out & shaping - 'specially if you have a decent bandsaw....

"The client (AKA Her Indoors) is happy, so I'm happy". Amen...

Cheers,

As mentioned earlier, the legs were cut on a bandsaw. They were then marked out again using the template and sanded square but reasonably smooth on the wheel of the linisher, so they look much like the legs in this pic.

Small Cedar Table.jpg

Once all four legs are smooth, square and uniform they are roughly rounded off, once again, on the wheel of the linisher which removes material rapidly. Then they make a visit to the spindle sander which removes the material more slowly for final shaping. Periodically I stack them together so when you walk around them they can be checked for shape and uniformity, as noted in the next 2 pics.

Legs 2.jpgLegs 1.jpg

Finally, they are blocked down with 120 grit to remove any uneveness or "waves"down the leg. Sometimes a spokeshave is used to get the desired lines.

It is not the "accepted" method of shaping cabriole legs, but it works for me. My linisher does the job quickly and has wonderful dust removal on either the belt or the wheel (see hoods used here ... Making 150mm DC ports for workshop machines) , so making these legs does not cover me or the shop in dust. An approach using a lathe is a moot point for me because I don't own one.